Foldable shipping-crate.



T 1% UMPRIES. POLDABLE SHIPPING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1908..

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FOLDABLE SHIPPING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1908.

940,754; Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

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THOMAS P. UMFRIES, F CEDARTOVVN, GEORGIA.

FOLDABLE SHIPPING-CRATE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Nov. 23, 1909.

Application filed June 13, 1908. Serial No. 438,366.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. UMFRIES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cedartown, in the county of Polk, State of Georgia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Shipping-Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to foldable or collapsible crates, and moreparticularly to the class of shipping crates adapted to be folded andhaving means for holding it when set up or in a folded position.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a folding cratehaving a bottom or base, hinged side and end sections foldable upon thesaid bottom or base, a detachable top and means for maintaining thecrate either in a folded or set up condition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a folding cratewhichis readily foldable in a compact manner, simple, efii cient, durable andinexpensive in the manufacture.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention for example,consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter more particularly referred to and as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred form ofembodiment of the invention, however, changes, variations andmodifications may be made such as come properly within the scope of theclaims hereunto appended without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view of the shipping crate in afolded position, and ready for shipment. Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, of the crate when inan upright condition. Fig. 4: is an end view of the crate when in anupright condition.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the' line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is abottom plan view.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts. throughoutthe several views in the drawings.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the base or bottom of theshipping cratewhich may be constructed of any suitable material and ofany desirable shape and which base includes a board or plate 11 securedby fasteners 12 upon end strips 13 and an intermediate brace strip 14which latterv and end strips are fitted into longitudinal sideextensions 15 and 16 respectively, which side extension 15 is of greaterheight than the side extension 16 and both of which are arranged invertical parallel relation to each other. Secured to the upper edge ofthe side extension 16 by hinges 17 is a foldable side section 18 and tothe side extension 15 at the upper edge thereof, secured by hinges 19 isa foldable side section 20 which latter includes a narrow board or plate21 having secured to its outer face at the edges thereof longitudinalstrips 22, end strips 23 and a central brace strip 24: while thefoldable side section 18 includes a Wide board or plate 25 with respectto the board or plate 21 and has secured to its outer face at the edgesthereof longitudinal strips 26, end strips 27 and a central brace strip28. V

F oldable upon the board 11 of the base and secured thereto by hinges 29are end sections 30, each of which includes a board or plate 31 havingsecured to the outer face thereof upper and lower strips 32 and sidestrips 33 and which end sections are adapted to be folded inwardly uponthe base 10 while the wide side section is folded upon the latter andthe short side section is brought in contact with said wide side sectionwhen folded thereon.

Upon the upper free edges of the side and end sections when in avertical upright position is mounted a detachable top or cover 3 1including a board or plate 35 having secured to its outerface at theedges thereof longitudinal strips 36, end strips 37 and a central bracestrip 38. It is obvious that the longitudinal end and brace strips onthe side sections and top or cover reinforce the same and also preventthem from warping.

At opposite ends and near the upper edge of each side section areopenings 39 which are adapted to register with openings 40 in the sidestrips 33 of the foldable side section and which openings receivethreaded bolts 41 carrying threaded washers 12 whereby the said endsections will be connected to the said side sections when the same arein an upright position. A distance removed from the openings 39 in theside section 20 are openings 43 and when said section is folded upon theend sections the said openings 43 will register with the openings 39 inthe side section 18 which is folded in position against the end section20 so that the bolts l1 will pass through the openings 4-?) and by thethreaded washers 42 thereon the foldable sections of the crate are heldin a collapsed or folded condition.

In the top or cover at opposite ends thereof are openings a l adapted toregister with openings 4-5 through which pass threaded bolts 46 havingthreaded washers t? so that when the sald top or cover is in positionfor closing the crate when set up the said top or cover will bedetachably secured thereto. In the end strips 13 of the base 10 areopenings L8 through which pass the bolts 46 for securing the top orcover 3% to said base when the crate is in a folded condition forshipment. To receive the crate when folded is an auxiliary top or cover49 having side walls 50 and end walls 51 to form a supporting tray orreceptacle. This top or cover a9 is to be used in lieu of the top orcover 34: when the crate contains heavy merchandise for shipment therein. To secure the auxiliary top or cover 4C9 upon the crate when inupright position there are fasteners 52 which are broughtinto lockingengagement with openings 53 in the central brace strips 28 of thefoldable side sections.

When the crate is folded and ready for shipment the auxiliary top orcover L9 receives the same and is locked therein by the fasteners 52whereby the crate is compact in its folded condition and can be easilyand readily handled in shipment when folded.

mat is claimed is 1. In a folding crate, a base, side and end sectionsfoldable upon the base, a detachable top, threaded apertured washersembedded centrally in opposite ends of said top, one of said sidesections containing threaded sockets adapted to register with saidapertured washers when inwardly folded upon the other side section,screw fasteners engaging said washers and registering sockets to lockthe crate in folded position and an auxiliary top adapted to receive thecrate when folded and to fit over the top thereof when in a set upposition.

2. In a folding crate, a base, side and end sections foldable upon thebase, a detachable top, threaded apertured washers embedded centrally inopposite ends of said top, one of said side sections containing threadedsockets adapted to register with said apertured washers when inwardlyfolded upon the other side section, screw fasteners engaging saidwashers and registering sockets to lock the crate in folded position, anauxiliary top adapted to receive the crate when folded and to fit overthe top thereof when in a set up position, and screw fasteners adaptedto secure the auxiliary top in either of the latter posit-ions on thecrate.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS P. UMFRIES. Witnesses JNo. L. TIsoN, W. WV. TisoN.

